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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1. D. KUNHARDT. AUTOMATIC TELBGRAPHY.

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Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

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No. 437,307. Patented Sept. 30. 1890.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

D. KUNHARDT. AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPHY.

Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

. (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

D. KUNHARDT. AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPHY.

No. 437,307. Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6. D. KUNHARDT. AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPHY- No. 437,307. Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID KUNHARDT, OF AAOHEN, GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPHY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,307, dated September 30, 18 90.

Application filed March 20, 1890. Serial No. 344,643. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID KUNHARDT, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Aachen, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Telegraphs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic telegraph {and it consists in the various features of improvement more fully pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is side elevation of a telegraphic apparatus embodying the improvements which form the subject of my present invention. The con tactsprings are represented in this figure in a general plan. Figs. 2 and 3 are a front view of the smaller drum with open and closed contactsprings. Fig. 4. represents the same contactsprings in circuit with signal-bells. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the larger drum with contact-field. Fig. 6 is a plan of the arm mounted on the axis of the larger drum and carrying the three contact-springs which are separately shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are respectively a front elevation, side elevation, and plan of the type-keys. Figs 13 and let are respectively av front elevation and a plan of a type-key separately. Fig. 15 is a plan of the surface of the larger drum, Fig. 5, rolled off to a plane. The wireconneetions of the contacts and contactsprings, as also the type-casings, are represented in this figure. Fig. 16 is a general view to better explain the arrangement of the type-keys and mechanism connected with the same, as shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12. Fig. 17 is a general plan of the springs and wireconnections between the working parts of the improved automatic telegraph. Fig. 18 represents a modification of the rolled-off plan of the drum F shown in Fig. 15.

A A. Fig. 1, are two standards to support a shaft B, to which motion is imparted either by a handle, as shown, or by mechanical means, such as a spring-motor, electrical motor, or other suitable driving-power.

On the shaft B a vertical arm 0 is mounted, the upper horizontal end of which is bifurcated, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Secured to its lower face there is a plate or block 0, of

india-rnbber or other insulating material, to which the springs D D D are secured. The two springs D and D Figs. 7 and 9, are formed with two fingers or points, while the spring D Fig. 8, is formed with three fingers or points. WVhenever the shaft B is turned said springs D D D will slide over a field of contacts composed of blocks and rails, as

hereinafter described, said field being arranged on the circumference of a drum F of wood. This drum is held stationary bymeans of the standard E. The shaftB passes freely through a central hole of drum F and standard E, and on its end a toothed wheel B is mounted, gearing into the larger toothed wheel G, the proportions of said wheels bereference to the drum II, as shown in Figs. 2

and 3. In the normal state or state of rest the springs J are in their lowermost position, Fig. 2, thus bearing upon the surface of drum H and out of contact with the upper springs K; but as soon as the drum H is turned the groups I, II, and III of bosses or webs will successively enter into mechanical contact with the twenty-two springs J, and through said contact the springs J are lifted into contact with the corresponding upper springs K, as shown in Fig. 3, to close the circuit, as hereinafter described; By these means each twenty-second pair of springs J and K serves to give short electrical signals by the bell in circuit with the battery B as shown in Fig. t. Said signals continue till one of the bosses or webs 22 of the group has passed below and left the spring .I. The bells are so arranged in circuit that the boss 22 of group I produces the signal in bell 2, and the boss 22 of group II produces the signal in bell 3, and the boss 22 of group III produces the signal in hell 1, and so on.

IOO

All springs K of equal number are conduetively connected to each other, as shown, and are further connected by twenty-one conducting-wires to the field of contacts on drum F. The said field of contacts, formed upon the circumference of drum F, is shown developed to a rectangular plane in Fig. 15.

At the left-hand side of the drum a series of insulated contact-blocks, numbered from +1 up to +21, is arranged, and at the righthand side asimilar series of insulated blocks, --1 up to 21, is arranged. Each positive or contact is connected with the negative or contact of the same number, as shown in Fig. 15.

Parallel to the series of contact-blocks and near the same a double-branched rail +L +L is laid, and at the side of the series of minus contacts a similar rail -L -L extends. Bctween the two double-branched rails a single rail M is arranged.

On the branch +L of the double rail +L +L a series of projecting contact-blocks +1 up to +21 is formed, and the said doublebranched rail +L +L is connected with the positive pole of the battery B. The other double rail LL carries on its branehL I a similarseries of projecting contact-blocks, numbered 1 up to-2l, and the said double rail is connected with the negative pole of the battery B.

The rail M is connected to ground.

The springs D D D, sliding over the contact-field, as described, make contact in the following manner: Spring D, with one of its fingers, bears upon the series of insulated contact-blocks +1 up to +21, and its other finger simultaneously slides over the branch +L and so forth.

If three or more receiving apparatuses are applied, I arrange behind the last contact on the contact-field F (+21 ground, line -21) in the path of spring D a contact-line 0 0, ground M M, and farther on in the path of the sprin s D and D a contact for the negative current, pole, ground M, line 0, pole,) through which contact, after each full character, astronger impulse of negativecurrent passes from a stronger batteryB". This current acts in the receiving-station on an armature provided with a stronger spring, and also with a pawl, which engages a ratchetwheel and turns the same in such a manner that the metallic shaft of said wheel, being connected to the line and having mounted on it little blocks of india-rubber or other insulating material, opens and closes in due succession the communication with the line of the apparatuses I, II, and III (or more) by means of sliding springs alternately bearing against said rubber orinsulating springs and against the metal of the said shaft. If it is of the adjacent rail. By these means all the contacts +1 up to +21 are successively o brought into connection with the positive pole of the battery. Spring D makes contact by one of its fingers with the raised contacts +1 up to +21 on branch +L of the left-hand rail. The central finger of the spring bears 011 the central rail M, and the right-hand finger of the spring is carried over the raised contacts 1 up to -21 on the branch L of the right-hand rail. It will be easily understood that by this arrangement the positive and negative poles are alternately connected to ground. Spring D simultaneously enters into contact by one of its fingers with the branch L and by the other finger with the series of insulated contact-blocks 1 up to -21, which contact-blocks by such means are successively connected with the negative pole of the battery B. In the state of rest of the apparatus the spring D bears against the contact-blocks N and O, which blocks are thereby connected. Contact-block N is conductively connected to the transmitting apparatus N and contact-block O to the line 0. The shaft B and arm C on being rotated carry the three springs D D D all over the field of contacts, and on starting the said springs will slide off the blocks N and O. The apparatus N will thereby first be disconnected from the line, whereupon reciprocal currents will arise according to the arrangements and connections shown and explained. When all the springs K of group I have been brought into contact with all the twenty-onc corresponding springs J and all said springs J are connected to line, the course of the current will be as follows:

First reciprocal current.

Second reciprocal current,

desired to employ parallel. currents, the rail M need only be disconnected from ground and rail -L L connected with ground.

It will easily be understood that an apparatus (polarized for reciprocal currents) will produce twcnty-one points on a slip of paper while being unrolled. Now, if I provide the possibility of making only those of the twentyone points active with reference to the current, which are necessary to constitute a type or character of the Morse alphabet composed of points and dashes, (each dash having three points,) it will be evident that any type or character of the said alphabet may be produced by making the springs D D D slide over the contact-field. The letter 11 of the Spanish alphabet would, for instance, require the following thirteen points among the series of twenty-one:

12%99113919 L n e .1 1 17 20 1232 G78 11 141516 192021. The remaining eight points (4; 5 9 10 12 13 17 18) are omitted or silent.

For the character ch the following points become active: 1 2 3, 6 7 8, 11 12 13, 16 17 18.

The choice of the contacts required for each separate type or character is determined by the type-boxes, consisting each of a wood casing containing four plates P, of wood, Fig. 10. Each plate P carries two supporting-blocks P to carry the shaft P on which are mounted the keys for all telegraphic types and characters, Figs. 11 and 12. The keys consist each of a lever Q, through the nave Q of which the shaft 1? passes. One end of lever Q is drawn down by a spiral spring Q so as to bear against an angular support Q On depressing the other end of lever Q, Fig. 11,the latter turns on shaft P and is caused to bear against a metal plate R, turning on its shaft R, connected to the line. The plate B, through the nave R through which the shaft R passes, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, bears, on being lifted at one end, with its opposite end against a set of springs R mounted upon a block of wood, which keeps the said springs insulated from each other. The leverQ on being forced down bears upon a set of springs Q and is then arrested by a stop Q5. On releasing the lever Q the spring Q will again draw the lever down upon the stop Q while the plate R is returned to its normal position by a flat spring R (Shown in Figs. 11 and 12.)

The sets of springsR and Q consist for each separate type or character of those springs which are in communication with the contacts of the same number on the contactfield and. which are required to become active in producing the points and dashes of the V respective type.

Many of the types have among their constituting springs a number of springs of a common number, such common springs being arranged below the metal plates R, while the springs that are peculiar or proper to each type or character are arranged below the lever Q. The set of springs R below the plate R may be termed common springs, and the set Q below the lever Q peculiar springs. The types i a u s, for instance, have all the common springs 1 and 5, while the type a has besides said common springs the peculiar springs 6 and 7; type u, the peculiar springs 9, 10, and 11; the type s, the peculiar spring 9, while the type i has no peculiar spring at all. Type t has only the peculiar springs 1 2 3; type e, only the one peculiar spring 1; type 11, only the peculiar springs 1 2 3 7. The types g 0 e z q m have all the common springs 1 2 3 7 8 9, while each of said types has the peculiar springs (indicated in Figs 12, 16, and 17) below the respective key Q. In each typebox all common springs and all peculiar springs are connected with the springs J of equal number in corresponding group of bosses on the drum H, as clearly shown in the general plan Fig. 17, where the wire-connections of'the four plates of the type-box are represented. All types or characters with common springs are also shown in the same figure.

Each shaft B being connected to line, Figs. 12, 15, and 17, it will be understood that on operating one of the keys Q and simultaneously making the springs D D D slide over the field of contacts a current will pass through those contacts of the field which are connected with the common and peculiar springs of the equal numbers below the operated key. The current will accordingly pass through the springs K and J, through the common springs of the type, through the plate R, and shaft R, to line, and will also, respectively, pass through the peculiar springs of the type, the lever Q, plate R, and shaft R to line, then to gronnd,and back to the field of contacts. The circuit, of course, will be closed only for that type-box for which the corresponding group of bosses of the cylinder H closes the contacts K to K and J to J The following examples may serve to better explain the working order, indicating the way which the current will take to enter into the line and become active for producing the type or character: For type a, contacts 1, 5 6 7; for type g, contacts 1 2 3, 7 8 9, 13 for type 111, contacts 1 2 3, 7 8 9, and for type 0, contacts 123,789,13141519,&c.

From Fig. 4 it will be understood that the operator at the type-box will always receive the bell-signal at the time when the preceding group of bosses make contact with their springs J and K. On receiving the signal he must operate his type-keys and keep the same down until the third signal of the bell sounds. In consequence of this mode of transmitting the types or characters (from box 1, box II, box III, Fig. 15, &c.,) as will be understood, the text of the several telegrams forwarded will arrive pell-mell in the receiver. Suppose the first operator I would begin the lot of telegrams which he has to transmit by the words Mister Max, the second operator II by the words Madam Suhl, and the third operator III by the words Miss Lehre. Then the letters in the Morse style would come forth in the receiver in the following order and in geometrically equal distances: m m miaisdstasemersemuhahrxle. The operator at the receiving apparatus would have to write these incoherent letters on three horizontal lines of ruled paper in vertical rows as follows:

and so on continue telegram of operator I.

and so on continue telegram of operator II.

I. m ilsltlelrlnrlalx II. maldlalmls u|h|l III. in ilslsllle h|r|e and so on continue telegram of operator III.

To space every two words-for instance, Mister and Max, Madam and Suhl, and so on-the key-blank is to be depressed in every type-box, which key produces a different sign for each of the three boxes. For box I, the character-blank consists of the contacts 1 11 21; for box II, of the contactsl 9 13 21, and for box III, of the contacts 1 8 11 14: 21. The signs produced in the Morse style are accordingly blank I, blank II, blank III, The three signs, as shown, are distinctly different in their central part. Now, if one of the transmitting operators makes a pause for a while, he only needs to depress the key-blank of his box. This key will inform the receiver to leave blank the respective line in writing down the letters received. If, for instance, blank 2 or. is transmitted, the letters received will successively be written on the horizontal lines 1 and 3, omitting line 2.

Instead of proceeding in the manner described, the following plan could as well be adopted with the same result: The whole lot of telegrams to be forwarded would previously be written on three successive lines in vertical order. Supposing the words Mister Max to be the totality of telegrams to be sent by operator I, Madam Suhl to be the totality of the lot of operator II, and Miss Lehre to be the whole lot of telegrams to the charge of operator III, the said telegrams, before being transmitted, would have to be written down as follows:

Each of the three operators in this case would have in charge to transmit one of the horizontal rows of letters, and on the slip of paper unrolling in the receiver the letters and words would appear in the true order as originally contained in the telegrams to be transmitted by the three operators.

hat I claim is The combination of drum F, having field to of contacts with insulated springs D D D 

